Factoid
There are some troubling red flags with DeAngelo Williams. He’s sharing time with Jonathan Stewart (who’s also a heck of back). He’s not a productive pass catcher. And Carolina will play a much harder schedule this year. Not really realistic, therefore, to expect him to score another 20 touchdowns.
At the same time, however, Williams is very good. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry last year. If you look at all running backs who’ve carried the ball 200-plus times since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, only six have finished with higher averages.
RUNNING BACKS WITH THE HIGHEST AVERAGES, 1978-2008
Shown are all running backs who carried the ball at least 200 times and averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry.
Att Yds Avg Year
335 2053 6.1 1997 Barry Sanders, Det.
331 1883 5.7 1994 Barry Sanders, Det.
221 1239 5.6 1989 James Brooks, Cin.
238 1341 5.6 2007 Adrian Peterson, Minn.
379 2105 5.6 1984 Eric Dickerson, Rams
273 1508 5.5 2002 Clinton Portis, Den.
273 1515 5.5 2008 DeAngelo Williams, Car.
290 1591 5.5 2003 Clinton Portis, Den.
253 1381 5.5 1999 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
232 1266 5.5 1997 Robert Smith, Minn.
312 1695 5.4 2006 Frank Gore, S.F.
223 1202 5.4 2007 Fred Taylor, Jac.
253 1359 5.4 2000 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
387 2066 5.3 2003 Jamal Lewis, Balt.
260 1382 5.3 2001 Marshall Faulk, St.L.
355 1883 5.3 2003 Ahman Green, G.B.
205 1087 5.3 1986 James Brooks, Cin.
313 1645 5.3 2003 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
203 1066 5.3 1988 Ickey Woods, Cin.
283 1486 5.3 1993 Emmitt Smith, Dall.
280 1470 5.3 1989 Barry Sanders, Det.
348 1815 5.2 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
357 1860 5.2 2005 Tiki Barber, NYG
336 1750 5.2 2005 Larry Johnson, K.C.
373 1934 5.2 1980 Earl Campbell, Hou.
313 1615 5.2 2002 Priest Holmes, K.C.
295 1521 5.2 2000 Robert Smith, Minn.
246 1262 5.1 1984 Wendell Tyler, S.F.
392 2008 5.1 1998 Terrell Davis, Den.
255 1304 5.1 1990 Barry Sanders, Det.
206 1053 5.1 1978 Tony Reed, K.C.
241 1229 5.1 1999 Charlie Garner, S.F.
201 1024 5.1 2003 Kevan Barlow, S.F.
218 1109 5.1 1979 Wendell Tyler, Rams
327 1662 5.1 2006 Tiki Barber, NYG
255 1296 5.1 2002 Michael Bennett, Minn.
370 1880 5.1 2005 Shaun Alexander, Sea.
240 1217 5.1 2006 Brian Westbrook, Phil.
310 1570 5.1 1998 Garrison Hearst, S.F.
307 1553 5.1 1996 Barry Sanders, Det.
280 1416 5.1 2005 Warrick Dunn, Atl.
297 1500 5.1 2000 Mike Anderson, Den.
238 1198 5.0 1979 Chuck Muncie, N.O.
219 1089 5.0 2008 Brandon Jacobs, NYG
202 1009 5.0 2007 Brandon Jacobs, NYG
204 1015 5.0 1990 Barry Word, K.C.
225 1119 5.0 1988 Gary Anderson, S.D.
222 1104 5.0 1985 Kevin Mack, Clev.
231 1146 5.0 2006 Fred Taylor, Jac.
—Ian Allan
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Posted by JODY SMITH | Jun. 10 at 08:49 AM
I feel a little better about my bashing of Williams earlier this offseason. I'd rather have Johnathon Stewart. No way I touch this guy in the top 5...I'm also wary of MJD posting poorer numbers when he's the featured guy. I think people have been too quick to bury L.T. He wasn't healthy all year. I think he's still got plenty left.
Posted by L DALE GANDER | Jun. 11 at 11:12 AM
I'm starting to recognize a trend in the NFL. When the second RB looks better than the first, but they continue to share carries - don't expect that to change until one of them is injured or traded. I've been bit too many times now expecting a RB to have a breakout season only to watch in horror as the coaching staff insists on him splitting time with what appears to be a lesser player. I love Stewart and in past years would probably bump him up my draft board with the expectation he will siphon more carries from Williams as the season rolls on. But history tells me to scrap that idea. I'm expecting more of the same, with neither guy becoming an elite back despite the team's ridiculously amazing production from that position.
Posted by Farhan Hassan | Jun. 11 at 12:25 PM
I have read that J. Stewart has been missing from the OTA's and that this injury is not of the minor variety. Coupled with this, Ian's point regarding the strength of schedule, and Fox's loyalty with the incumbent back (going with D. Foster when DeAngelo was clearly more effective), I would be very nervous about drafting J. Stewart.
Posted by JODY SMITH | Jun. 12 at 10:04 AM
Thanks for the heads-up on Stewart possibly being hurt. I hadn't heard that. I'm not saying I would draft him in the 1st, just that I think Williams is overrated. I know he got motivated last offseason, which led to his breakout, but a guy that couldn't clearly beat out Deshaun Foster for 2 full seasons? Oh, I should probably point out that I'm in a TD only league, so I am way more critical of Williams than most people.
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Jun. 12 at 10:24 AM
Williams averaged 5.0 yards per carry in 2007; Foster averaged only 3.5. The coaches chose to keep Foster in the starting lineup for God knows what reason, I don't think you can blame that on Williams. I thought he looked a lot like Barry Sanders last season. Damn good player.